Adding a homedirectory drive letter in a batch script

Mapping Drives and Printers From Command

*****Drives*****

These command can be executed from either command line, Batch File OR Login Scripts

This command maps a drive "Z:\" to a shared directory on a server called "Server1"

net use z: \\server1\sharename\

If you need permissions to use this network resource toy can also enter the username and password. (See Security Below)

net use z: \\server1\sharename\ /user:username password

The above commands will work until a user logs out or the machine is rebooted, to make the mapping permanent you need to use a "Persistent switch"

net use z: \\server1\sharename\ /user:username password /Y

*****Printers*****

The Syntax is the same but this time you are mapping an "lpt" port (Line Printer Terminal) All the rules above apply so the full command is,

net use lpt1 \\machinename\sharename\ /user:username password /Y

or

RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /dn /n\\COMPUTERNAME\PRINTERNAME      // removes printer    
RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /in /n\\COMPUTERNAME\PRINTERNAME       // adds printer

Zero Administration Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/Recommended/Featured/NTZAK.asp

How to Use Con2prt.exe to Connect to a Network Printer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=181663


*****Security*****

If you do need to use  username and password, this has obvious security implications, Consider using NSIS
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/site/Download.6.0.html

For instructions on its use see https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20710867/Mapping-a-Network-Drive-through-a-Script.html

If the environment is all Windows XP then you can this with the "set" command - this is built in. I think it is also in Windows 2000, but I had some problems with it.

Set Homedrive=U:\
Set Homepath=\

If it is a mixed environment then you will need the "setx" Resource Kit utility.

If you are using setx don't forget to put the actual exe file in to netlogon share along with the batch file so that the logon script finds it.

Simon.

Sorry, I think I need to clarify slightly.
For the record this is an AD environment but the problem I have applies just as much to an NT environment. What I want to change are the properties of a user account, hence the example I used with NET USER. NET USER will change the script path for a user account, the profile path and the local drive path for the homefolder amongst other things. However I am unable to make it select the 'Connect' path and specify a drive letter. NET USER won't allow this but I find it difficult to believe there isn't a utility out there which provides this functionality.

I guess you are looking for the command: addusers.exe from Windows Resource Kit
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=199878

This would have been perfect had the user accounts not been already created! The users in question had the accounts themselves created a few months ago in order to use webmail and now they are going live properly. Therefore I need a utility which will manipulate an existing account.

While this is not a free tool, it is offered as a 30-day trial:

http://www.tools4ever.com/products/usermanagement/

It will do batch changes to user accounts, which is what you are looking for.

Hope this helps...

Cheers but it looks like the lite version is limited to only 5 users at a time and is a little much for what I need. Specifically I would like a command line utility. Sorry to be picky!

Cheers

Simon

I have selected all users within the OU I wish to change and changed the drive letter en mass (which I hadn't realised initially I could do). This has fixed my issue. I've still not found a command line utility though.

Do you want to set or change the home directory?

Why not just do this using vbscript

I knocked up the followed command file to move home directories for around 150 staff. Scripting it really cuts down on unneccesary errors due to typos/tiredness

rem copyhome.cmd by Hans Stiles
rem Script to copy contents of home directory from SERVERA to SERVERB
rem share new on SERVERB directory, set share and file permissions
rem modify home directory information for the user account
rem and then unshare old directory on SERVERA

@echo off

xcopy \\servera\d$\users\%1 d:\users\%1 /e /v /i /h /k /o /x

net share %1$=d:\users\%1 /grant:%1,CHANGE /grant:"domain admins",FULL

cacls d:\users\%1 /T /E /G %1:C

echo Set oUser = GetObject("WinNT://ourpdc/%1")>c:\movehome.vbs
echo oUser.HomeDirectory = "\\serverb\%1$">>c:\movehome.vbs
echo oUser.SetInfo>>c:\movehome.vbs
echo Set oUser = Nothing>>c:\movehome.vbs
echo strShareName = "%1$">>c:\movehome.vbs
echo Set objfServer = GetObject("WinNT://servera/lanmanserver")>>c:\movehome.vbs
echo objfServer.Delete "Fileshare", strShareName>>c:\movehome.vbs
echo Set objfServer= Nothing>>c:\movehome.vbs

cscript c:\movehome.vbs > NUL

del c:\movehome.vbs

:end

The function oUSer.HomeDirDrive  would be used to manipulate the drive letter.

I realise there is more code than you need here, but I thought the entire fiule would give you an idea of how you could create a command file that called a vb script.  I basically dumped a list of all users in to a text file and setup a command file as follows:

copyhome usera
call copyhome userb
call copyhome userc

kicked it off when I got home, went out for the evening, came home, cleared up any errors, claimed a day off in lieu :)

This is just what I was looking for. I hadn't realised cusrmgr went much further than passwords (should have checked, but you forget about these things) although this must be run on the domain controller. DSMOD in particular looks very useful so thanks and thanks as always to everyone who has contributed.

cusrmgr doesn't need to be run on the DC; simply specify a DC's name with the -m switch.